0815 HRS.

    10^th December, 2013

THE HEADLINES:

• Congress retains power in Mizoram;  Secures Two-third majority in the40-member Assembly.
• Cabinet Committee on Uttarakhand approves 7,346 crore rupees for the relief and rehabilitation of flood-ravaged state.
• President to attend memorial service of anti-apartheid icon and former South African President Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg.
• Human Rights Day being observed today.
• India to clash with Korea in a must win final Pool-C match of the Men's Junior Hockey World Cup at New Delhi.

[]><><><[]

The ruling Congress has secured two-third majority in the Mizoram Assembly by winning 33 seats in the 40-member House. The opposition Mizoram Democratic Alliance secured six seats and Zoram Nationalist Party, BJP, NCP and JMB did not secure any seat. The Congress had secured 32 out of 40 seats in 2008 Assembly elections. Chief Minister and MPCC President Lal Thanhawla won from both Serchhip and Hrangturzo seats. However, Finance Minister Mr Liansailova and Tourism Minister S Hiato lost the elections.

The results were declared for 39 seats. Re-poll for Lawngtlai East Constituency in Southern Mizoram will be held tomorrow. It was necessitated due to a defect in an EVM. The counting will take place on Thursday.  Counting took an arduous 15 hours yesterday, due to a technical problem and power disruptions. More from our correspondent:

Congress retains power in Mizoram for the second consecutive term securing a comfortable absolute majority of 33 out of 40 seats. Chief Minister Lalthanhawla is poised to retain the hot seat once again. The opposition MDA managed to secure only 6 seats. According to the Congress Spokesperson David M. Thangliana, the party is convening a meeting soon to decide on the induction of council of ministers. It is to be seen whether the congress will be able to fulfill the aspirations of the people of Mizoram as promised in their election manifesto. Jonathan L Hnamte, AIR News, Aizawl.

 []<><><>[]

With the results of five state assembly elections out, political parties are taking stock of the post poll scenario. BJP has elected Vasundhara Raje in Rajasthan and Raman Singh in Chhattisgarh as leaders of legislative parties; while it will take the decision on electing Shivraj Singh Chouhan as leader of the legislative party on Friday. Vasundhara Raje will take oath as the Chief Minister of Rajasthan on 13th of  December. Dr. Raman Singh will take the oath of Chief Minister on December 12 in Raipur.  In Delhi, though the BJP has emerged as the single largest party, no group is in a position to form the government. BJP's Chief Ministerial candidate in Delhi, Dr. Harsh Vardhan has said, he will not stake claim to form the government and will prefer to sit in opposition as his party is short of majority. 28 Aam Aadmi Party legislators unanimously elected Arvind Kejriwal as their leader.  A decision in this regard was taken at the party's meeting in New Delhi last evening.

 []<><><>[]

 The Cabinet Committee on Uttarakhand, headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, has sanctioned 7,346 crore rupees for the relief and rehabilitation of flood-ravaged state. A statement issued by the Uttrakhand Government in Dehradun said that the decision was taken during a meeting in New Delhi. 

Of the 7,346 crore rupees, 1,885 crore rupees will be given for Centre-aided schemes and 1,200 crore rupees for schemes under the National Disaster Relief Fund. 

 []<><><>[]

 The Union Cabinet has approved the finalization of the reserve price for auction of spectrum in 1,800 Megahertz band for all service areas in the country. An official release said, the Cabinet fixed the start price for the sale of spectrum in the 1,800 MHz band at a pan-India rate of 1,765 crore rupees per MHz. It also approved the reserve price for auction for 900 MHz band in Metro service areas of Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata. The reserve price for 900 MHz band in Delhi will be 360 crore rupees per MHz, in Mumbai it, will be 328 crore rupees and in Kolkata, it will be 125 crore rupees.

[]><><><[]

 The Privilege Committee of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council has decided to ask former Army Chief General VK Singh to appear in person before the Committeeon the 9th of January, 2014. He has been asked to appear in person to explain his position on allegations that politicians in the state were paid by the Army. There is a privilege motion pending against him in the House in this regard. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Privilege Committee held in Jammu yesterday, under the chairmanship of Jugal Kishore Sharma. Members of Legislative Council, MLCs, Devender Singh Rana, Ravinder Kumar Sharma, Ghulam Nabi Monga, Ali Mohammad Dar and Showkat Hussain Ganai were also present at the meeting.

[]><><><[]

 The Supreme Court has sought replies from the Centre and Nuclear regulator Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, AERB on a plea against the commissioning of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project in Tamil Nadu. A bench of justices KS Radhakrishnan and Dipak Misra yesterday issued notices to the Department of Atomic Energy, Ministry of Environment and Forests, AERB, Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd., Tamil Nadu government and its pollution control board.

The petitioner had filed the plea on the ground that the directions of the Supreme Court on ensuring safety in and around the plant have not been complied with. The court posted the matter for hearing in January.

 []><><><[]

The memorial service of anti-apartheid icon and former South African President Nelson Mandela will be held in Johannesburg today. President Pranab Mukherjee is among over 90 heads of state and government, who will attend the memorial service. President Pranab Mukherjee left for Johannesburg last night. In his departure statement, Mr. Mukherjee said that Nelson Mandela's life was a living example of human strength and courage in the face of brute force and gross injustice. He said that the iconic leader was the last of the giants who led the world’s struggle against colonialism.

The President is accompanied by a delegation, which includes UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj and Members of Parliament, Sitaram Yechuri and Satish Chandra Mishra. He will return home tomorrow.

Mr. Mukherjee is among the six heads of state who will address the  gathering at the memorial service. US President Barack Obama, Brazilian leader Dilma Rousseff, Hifikepunye Pohamba of Namibia and Raul Castro of Cuba as well as Chinese Vice-President Li Yuanchao are the other leaders, who will address the congregation.Mandela passed away on Thursday last, after a prolonged illness.

 []<><><>[]

 India has welcomed the inking of the first disarmament treaty at the Biological Weapons Convention in Geneva. The treaty banned an entire class of biological weapons of mass destruction. Through this instrument, 170 State Parties have pledged never to develop, produce, stockpile or otherwise acquire or retain biological weapons. They have also committed not to use, in any way, biological agents for protective or other peaceful purposes.

 []<><><>[]

 The World Innovation Summit for Health, WISH-2013 gets underway in Qatar capital, Doha today. Leading health care experts on global health systems and policy implementation will discuss , practical and innovative solutions to tackle global health challenges  over the next two days. More from our West Asia Correspondent:

The WISH Summit -2013 has the focus on eight areas: Obesity, Mental health, Integrated and accountable care End-of-life, Road traffic accidents ,Empowering patients, Antimicrobial resistance and Big data. These are among the challenges which call for an innovative practices which can make healthcare not only available but affordable as well. A Global Diffusion of Health Innovation Report will be issued for the first time to show how the national healthcare systems of Brazil, England, India, Japan, Qatar, South Africa, Spain and USA have contributed to global change.  Atul K Tiwary, AIR News, Doha.

 []<><><>[]

 Human Rights Day is being observed today to bring to light, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Events, focused on the Declaration, have been organised across the globe to educate people, particularly the youth, on their human rights and the importance of upholding them. The theme this year is, '20 years: Working for your rights'.

On the occasion, NHRC has organised a programme in New Delhi today. Vice President Mohammed Hamid Ansari will address the function. A report:

Human rights is a topic that should concern all of us. Especially women who have historically been without rights and protection.  India has been striving to protect and promote Human Rights of its citizens including women.  The Human Rights issues in India relate to trafficking of women and children, food  security, right to education and health, disappearance of people, displacement of   persons due to disasters, conflict and development, child labour, custodial deaths and violation of Human Rights in prisons.  On these issues, The National Human Rights Commission of India  is not only dealing with individual cases but also issuing policy  guidelines for implementing agencies. with PRATYUSH GHOSH this is Lalima Aneja Dang for AIR NEWS NEW DELHI.

 []<><><>[]

 India will clash with Korea in its must-win final Pool-C match of the Men's Junior Hockey World Cup at New Delhi today. The match will be played at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium at 8 in the evening. With a victory and a defeat, India is, currently, third in the Group with 3 points. India had lost to the Netherlands, 2-3, in their opener, while they had defeated Canada, 3-2 in their last match on Saturday. The Netherlands will take on Canada at 6 PM, in the other Pool-C match today.

 []<><><>[]

 Large-scale violence broke out in Singapore for the first time in 40 years, when South Asians set fire to vehicles and clashed with police in the district known as Little India late on Sunday. The clash took place over the death of an Indian national, who was killed in a bus accident.  Singapore police have arrested 27 South Asians, saying that more will be held soon. Out of 27 arrested, 24 were said to be Indians.

[]><><><[]

NEWSPAPER HEADLINES 
 

• "Politics of pahle AAP may propel L-G to power" reads the Pioneer front page headline. The paper adds as the 2 leading parties in Delhi-BJP and AAP are reluctant to stake claim to form a government in Delhi, the focus is now shifting to lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung, who according to the rule book can call for the President's rule.
• The Hindustan Times on its front page writes that Sharad Pawar has attacked the Congress saying, its dismal show in the assembly elections is due to weak leadership. Quoting him the paper writes "People need strong, decisive and result oriented leaders, they don't need weak rulers".
• Stocks indices surged to close at record high and the rupee strengthened further against the U.S. dollar following poll results of four states writes almost all papers. The Financial Express covers it under the headline "Sensex at lifetime high as investor see lotus bloom".
• The Tribune's front page story reads that the progressive Punjab Investor Summit got off to a flying start with 21 companies signing agreements with Punjab government entailing an investment of Rs. 55,000 crore and creation of an estimated one lakh jobs.
• The Indian Express on its front page writes that Iran wants a high-level business delegation from India to test for HIV before issuing Visas, angering New Delhi as such a demand is seen as discriminatory and politically incorrect.
• The Times of India reports that a powerful icy storm system is sweeping across the US, resulting in temperatures dropping to minimum 29 degrees Celsius and lower resulting in deaths, power cuts and massive travel disruption with nearly 3200 flights being cancelled.
• Facebook is considering giving its users a less cheery alternative to the "LIKE" option - a "Sympathise" button. If a user were to tag his or her status with a negative emotion, the "Sympathise" button would automatically replace the "like" button writes the Asian Age.